Squeeze

The X-Files episode
“Squeeze”
Episode no.	Season 1 Episode 2
Guest star(s)	Doug Hutchison as Eugene Victor Tooms; Donal Logue as Agent Tom Colton
Writer(s)	Glen Morgan and James Wong
Director	Harry Longstreet
Production no.	03-103
Original airdate	1993 Sept. 24
Episode chronology
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""Deep Throat""	""Conduit""
List of X-Files episodes

"Squeeze" is the third episode of The X-Files (the second regular episode, not counting the pilot), and the first episode which deals with non-alien phenomena. The story focuses on a series of unexplained murders.

Gender

There are a few gender and characterization issues worth noting, although as usual, feminist issues were not directly treated.

One comment in particular sticks out: Scully is lunching with a classmate from "the Academy", Tom Colton. They discuss a colleague's rapid promotion, and Tom asks for Scully's advice about a case that he hopes will bring him similar glory and rapid promotion. If it works out, Tom suggests, "maybe [she] won't have to be Mrs. Spooky any more." This comment, referencing Scully by Mulder's nickname "Spooky", implicitly frames Scully as Mulder's subordinate in their team. It suggests that Tom and perhaps other FBI agents see Scully's relationship to Mulder that way. Scully's reaction -- a discomfort -- is framed, a subtle rebuttal to the statement.

Her unease is repeated several times more, as the team works with Tom and his team. On several occasions, team members patronize or dismiss Mulder; in one instance, Mulder straight-facedly talks about grey Reticulans. In each instance, Scully's portrayed discomfort suggests a mixture of emotions: At first it is unclear whether she is herself embarrassed by her assignment, but over the course of the episode, irritation becomes more obvious: Irritation at being considered subordinate to Mulder or less serious -- tainted, maybe -- by her association with Mulder. One likes to think that perhaps Scully is also irritated by Tom's presumption in trying to "rescue" her, when she has herself seen and respected the work she and Mulder are doing together.

"A report of you obstructing another officer's investigation might stick out on your personnel file."

Scully is certainly increasingly annoyed by Tom's ambition, which she implicitly contrasts with her own interest in solving the case. When Tom tries to prevent Mulder from coming into a recent crime scene, Mulder cockily challenges him:

M: What's the matter, Colton -- you worried I'm going to solve your case?

In the background Scully looks somewhat annoyed at Mulder's challenge, but authoritatively steps in for them to gain access to the crime scene:

S: Tom, we have authorized access to this crime scene. A report of you obstructing another officer's investigation might stick out on your personnel file.

TC: Look, Dana, whose side are you on?

S: The victim's.

Scully looks hard at Colton, and emphasizes "The victim's", to more than imply that he should be focused on that as well.

Later, Scully is "furious" with Colton for calling off a stake-out that she and Mulder had authorized, and tells him off:

TC: We have to talk.

S: I have to meet Mulder.

TC: That's what we have to talk about. You're using two of my men to sit in front of a building that's been condemned for ten years.

S: It isn't in any way interfering with your investigation.

TC: When we first had lunch I really looked forward to working with you. You were a good agent. But now after Mulder I couldn't have you far enough away. Don't bother going down there. I had the stake-out called off.

S: You can't do that!

No, I can't, but my regional ASAC can, espcially after I told him about the irresponsible waste in man-hours. Nuh-uh (taking the phone from Scully) -- let me call Mulder; let me tell him the news.

S: Is this what it takes to climb the ladder, Colton?

TC: All the way to the top.

S: Then I can't wait till you fall off and land on your ass. (she walks out)

It's also nice to see Scully getting respect from both Mulder and her former classmate and his partners, for her own skill in profiling and ideas. Mulder frankly acknowledges, with perhaps a bit of surprise, that "You were right", in her profile suggesting that the killer would return to the scene of the crime.

Mulder and Scully break gender slightly -- she steps forward into the dark hole; later Mulder is obviously squicked out by having bile on his fingers ("Is there any way I can get it off my fingers quickly without betraying my cool exterior.").

However, as the climactic scene in the episode, Scully is placed in the damsel-in-distress role for the first of many times in the series, rescued by Mulder.